MURPHY GOES TO THE BEACH

In May, The Entire Scott Pack went to Oregon for a beach visit . . .

. . . where the wind blows his ear straight up . . .

. . . where the sneaker wave catches him and he scurries
for shore as fast as an arthritic old dog can move . . .

. . . and where he & Pifflesqueak take one last run together.

On 18 May 2004 came the sad news:

There is an empty collar in our home this morning and a huge empty space in our hearts.

Yesterday, we were obliged to send Murphy the Wonder Dog aka Pinantan Charlie's Mr. Jim, AireCanada's Yukon rescue boy and our dear friend all rolled into one, over the Rainbow Bridge. He left us with a smile, a kiss and a jaunty wave, the sun shining brightly behind him, dappling his lovely silver and champagne coat one last time.

On Friday, we discovered that our beloved boy had an inoperable highly-aggressive stomach cancer. He was uncomfortable but, being an Airedale, refused to disclose his pain until the condition was well advanced. Due to his overall frail condition, no remedies would have been possible anyway.

We selfishly kept him over the weekend, stuffed him with his favorite pizza and took him for walks in his beloved buggy. He was hugged and kissed by us and fussed over by Angie and Pifflesqueak and must have known how much we all loved him and how terribly hard it was for us to say a final goodbye.

The vet and his staff held what amounted to a memorial service after Murphy's departure, all of us sitting on the floor around Murphy, stroking his soft coat, and talking about what a splendid fellow our boy was.

Last night when sleep eluded me, all sorts of snapshots of Murphy flooded my head.

I saw him wobbling tentatively toward us when Pascale Black, his rescuer, offered him to us. He was skeletally thin, so thin we could see his heart beart.

I saw Murphy shaking the daylights out of his toys, uprooting the hydrangea, challenging a c*t fool enough to wander into the compost box in the yard and stalking the concrete c*t that graces our fireplace hearth.

I saw Murphy leaping back from Squeak's nipping teeth after he had accidentally trodden upon her and could still hear him ferociously attacking the mail that landed on his head when he chose to sleep under the mail slot.

I saw Murphy riding up high in Jim's truck, so proud to be with my husband.

I saw Murphy lounging in his customary place on the stairs and lying on his fine bed by the TV, losing himself under the table and being flattened by clumsy Little Miss A who fell off the bed directly onto him.

I saw his funny little beard and his odd walk and how he recoiled from a visit outside when it snowed.

I saw his big expressive eyes light with joy when a treat was offered and watched him once more snatch up a leash so we could take him for a walk.

I remembered his odd little OOK! OOK! OOK! of a bark and how he customarily wandered about growling to himself even when nothing was wrong.

I saw Murphy and heard him and was comforted . . . .

Murphy the Wonder Dog: October 4, 1989 - May 17, 2004

More about Murphy

Success Stories - Murphy

May he forever rest in peace, free from pain and happy to play with all those who crossed the bridge before him - too many to list here but all as deeply-loved as he was - our little rescued starfish.

Very sadly,
Maureen, Jim, Angie A & Pifflesqueak the Toy Poodle

On 26 May, Maureen writes:

My very dear cyberfriends,

We are totally astonished - and touched - at the outpouring of sympathy we have received since our dear old friend, Murphy the Wonder Dog, trotted off over the Rainbow Bridge last week. Over 150 email messages, cards, donations to AireCanada rescue in Murphy's name, flowers and long distance phone calls have come our way.

Some people have assured us that their dogs who went before were there to greet Murphy and help him on his way. Others remarked on how Murphy influenced them to assist with rescue or offer a senior Airedale a home. Yet others said how much they would miss the stories about Murphy. One woman sent her entire winnings from an office hockey pool to AireCanada to help others like Murphy. Many simply said, "We're so sorry."

We treasure each and every one of these messages. You can have no idea how much. I am replying to every single person but it is taking me a very long time, mainly because I reread each email and sometimes shed a few tears.

In the midst of the flurry, my internet provider had a meltdown due to a power failure. I know that some messages may not have reached us. If I do not eventually reply personally to you, I may not have received your kind words but we do appreciate them nonetheless.

The house seems terribly empty right now. Angie & Pifflesqueak have been cuddled up together and have eaten little this past week. It's incredible the impact that Murphy's loss has made on our little family.

We continually reassure ourselves that Murphy is where life is no longer a burden to him, that never again can he feel pain or be abused. You have told us that he is chasing butterflies, that he has new squeaky toys and that cookies are raining from the sky in his honor. I believe that Murphy is looking over my shoulder as I write this and he has a tiny bemused smile on his funny little face when he see what a legacy he left behind even though he was simply a charming old rescued throwaway Airedale from the Yukon.

He's our little AireAngel now and, even though he's not physically beside us, we will love him forever. Murphy will still live as long as someone remembers him. Thank you for keeping his memory safe for us.

Both Sidney & Andréa have updated Murphy's story on their web pages with one last photograph of the Wonder Dog. He's enjoying the sun on the beach at Cape Kawanga, Oregon, during the second week of our final holiday with him.

With huge hugs and heartfelt thanks to all who contacted us or wished Murphy well,

Maureen, Jim, Angie A & Pifflesqueak the Toy Poodle

IN HONOR OF MURPHY, AIRECANADA IS OFFERING A BRAND NEW, HANDMADE TREAT POUCH! Great for training, or carrying your gear while walking!

Click on Murphy's logo to check it out!

INTRODUCING COURTENAY SCOTT

Murphy (@RB), Angie A. (@RB) & Pifflesqueak (@RB) shown with the kind permission of Maureen & Jim Scott